The “Orientation Workshop on the Information Technology (IT) in Asian Co-operatives Project (it@coops)” also called the “Social Marketing on Information Technology” was conducted for the co-op members of the National Confederation of Co-operatives (NATCCO), a member of the Asian Women in Co-operative Development Forum (AWCF) in the Philippines. It was held at the NATCCO Training Center, Quezon City, Philippines on 9-10 December 2004. It was part of the programmed activities of the “it@coops, a joint project between AWCF and the Capacity Building International Germany or InWEnt, and supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation Development (BMZ).

The “Social Marketing” aimed at raising the awareness of co-op leaders, managers and staff on IT opportunities and constraints as well as the state of IT in the NATCCO network. There were 25 co-ops and seven organizations represented in the workshop. A total of 72 participants attended the workshop, with 32 women and 30 men. Ms Salome A. Ganibe, Regional Coordinator of AWCF, Mr. Cresente Paez, Executive Director of NATCCO, and Mr. Olaf Neussner of InWent were keynote speakers for the occasion.

Overall, the participants appreciated the benefits and opportunities of IT for co-operatives, and they committed to implement and sustain the objectives of the it@coops project. An initial plan of action was drawn up as one of the results of the workshop.

IT COORDINATOR CHOSEN – Mr. Darwin Evangelista was hired by NATCCO on May 2005, primarily to take care of the preparation, organization, implementation, and monitoring of the different activities of the project to be conducted in the Philipppines. Among these activities are running the training program (“IT Training of Trainers Programme”) and setting up the ICT-Based Business Development Center (BDC) and the virtual networking.

COMPUTER LABORATORY PUT UP - The project provided the necessary fund to rent a fully equipped computer laboratory to facilitate the conduct of the training program. The functional IT Training Center is located on the first floor of the NATCCO building in Quezon City

IT TRAINING INSTITUTE SELECTED - InWent contracted the services of the Philippines Business for Social Progress, a private and non-profit foundation dedicated to promoting business sector commitment to social development. Since 1970, PBSP has delivered organized, professional and sustainable assistance to various sectors and has harnessed partnerships among government, NGO’s, civil society and donor institutions to expand the impact and relevance of its work on poverty alleviation. PBSP is the implementing partner of Microsoft Philippines for the 5-year partners in Learning program, which train teachers, administrators and students on Microsoft productivity and programming tools.

Initially, IT Training of Trainers Programme is being implemented by the consortium of PBSP and Information Technology Solutions, International (ITS). ITS was established in early 2000 with prime mission to help clients meet their business goals through the implementation of quality IT services and installation and development of innovative products at cost effective rates. ITS provides outsourcing services, primarily in application development and maintenance support. Additional services include application packaging and deployment, production support, staff augmentation and training.

CO-OPS INVOLVED AND PARTICIPANTS - There are a total of twenty participants from selected NATCCO members nationwide. 13 primary co-ops and 5 secondary developmental organizations are involved in the training programme. The co-ops are willing and committed to implement and sustain the project’s objectives. The participants likewise are potential IT Trainers, willing to stay in the co-ops for at least two years and act as IT Trainers for the co-operatives and help establish the Business development Centers. A Memorandum of Understanding between NATCCO and the participating co-ops and participants were signed to manifest the roles and commitment of each stakeholders.

Co-operatives involved are the following:

Baao Parish MPC, Cebu Peoples MPC, Gubat St Anthony Cooperatives, Infanta Credit and Development Co-op, Labo Market Vendors MP and Transport Service Co-op, Lingayen Catholic Credit Co-op, Nueva Vizcaya Alay Kapwa MPC, Oro Integrated Co-op, Paco-Soriano-Pandacan Development Co-op, Panabo MPC, PHCCI-Tacloban, Tagum MPC, Valenzuela Development Co-op, Lamac MPC, Abra-Diocesan Teachers and Employees MPC, Bicol Co-operative and Development Center, Co-operatives Education and Development Center, Visayas Co-operative Development Center.